Golf in Tasmania

A round of golf in Tasmania comes with added extras – kelp gatherers at the fairway edge, a round-eared native pademelon in the rough, or sheer sea cliffs ready to claim a wayward drive.

Tasmania has more than 80 golf courses set among rainforest and rolling rural landscapes or close to deserted beaches and mountains.

At Kingston Golf Club in the south, fairways zigzag through a riverside wildlife sanctuary where an eagle-eye might spot a platypus.

The island’s strong golfing tradition began with the oldest course in the Southern Hemisphere – established by Scottish settlers before 1840 – and now includes 12 major 18-hole courses. Historic Bothwell Golf Club, at the Ratho property on the edge of the central highlands, continues to fence the greens on its nine-hole layout to protect the putting surface from grazing sheep. Its rules include the important number five, which specifies that, ‘If a sheep track interferes with stance, the ball may be dropped behind without penalty.’ A Gothic sandstone schoolhouse in the Bothwell township is home to the Australasian Golf Museum and a diverse collection that includes clubs from 1880-1970.

The 100-year-old Royal Hobart Course has hosted many high-profile tournaments, including the 1971 Australian Open won by Jack Nicklaus. Nearby, the Tasmania Golf Club, on Barilla Bay, offers fine golf and water views.

For a dose of drama, pit your wits against the Tasman Club’s par-3 eighth at Storm Bay, near the Port Arthur convict settlement. Underestimate the 136-yard carry over a gorge – known as The Chasm – and your ball will drop 100 feet to the pounding sea below.

Tasmania also has championship courses in the state’s major northern city of Launceston, as well as in Burnie and Ulverstone in the north-west.

Rising out of the heaving dunes on Tasmania’s north-east coast is the Barnbougle Dunes links course. The natural contours of the sand were the inspiration for the dramatic 18-hole golf course. Barnbougle opened in December 2004 and has quickly become Australia’s number 1 public access golf course. Not surprisingly, Barnbougle draws golfers from across the globe seeking links courses in the tradition of Scotland and Ireland.